It’s been a summer loaded with swimming action, from U.S. Nationals to the European Championships to Pan Pacs to Asian Games to Junior Pan Pacs. But through all of it, you won’t see a more exciting relay race than the men’s medley at the 2018 Asian Games.

Ryosuke Irie claimed 2 silvers behind American Ryan Murphy at the Pan Pacific Championships. Will the Japanese national record holder be able to come away with a gold ahead of rival Xu Jiayu here in Jakarta?

Yuki Kobori is a Japanese freestyle specialist and double Olympian. At his second Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro he won a bronze medal as a member of Japan’s 800 meter freestyle relay. Koburi is a Mizuno swimmer based in Tokyo. He took up the sport at age four, following in his sisters footsteps.

International Career

Kobori made his international debut at the Pan Pacific Championships in 2010 in Irvine, California.

2012 Olympic Games

At the 2012 London Olympics, Kobori lead off the Japanese team in the 800 meter freestyle relay. The quartet finished ninth in the heats.

2013 World Championships

A year later at the FINA World Championships Kobori was a member of the 800 meter freestyle relay that finished fifth in the final.

2014 Pan Pacific Championships

Kobori won his first major international medal at the 2014 Pan Pacs, winning silver on Japan’s 4×200 free relay.

2015 World Championships

At the 2015 FINA World Championships, Kobori had the fastest split on the Japanese 800 meter freestyle relay, but the team didn’t make the finals, finishing 10th in the heats.

2016 Rio Olympic Games

Kobori won his first Olympic medal, earning a bronze in the 800 meter freestyle relay. Japan finished in 7:03.50 behind USA and Great Britain.

2017 Universiade

At the 2017 World University Games, Kobori pulled his first 2 medal haul, garnering a gold in the 4×200 free relay as well as a bronze in the 4×100 medley relay.

2018 Pan Pacific Championships

At Pan Pacs, Kobori once again pulled double medals in the same 2 relays, this time earning silver in the 4×100 medley and bronze in the 4×200 free relay.

2018 Asian Games

In Jakarta, Kobori won a hat trick of medals, including his first individual international medal. He helped Japan to gold in the 4×200 free relay and silver in the 4×100 medley relay (which set a national record) as well as won a bronze in the 100 fly (51.77).